Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Adapt To Your Favored Main Character

Assassin's Creed Shadows, isn't the first game in the series to give players the option to pick between two different protagonists. But the two main characters in this game--the female ninja Naoe and the hulking samurai Yasuke--each have their own distinct strengths and approach to the world around them. Players can jump back and forth between the two characters, but according to Assassin's Creed Shadows creative director Jonathan Dumont, fans won't miss too much if they favor one character over another.

While speaking with ScreenRant, Dumont said that the game doesn't force players to split their time between Yasuke and Naoe. Instead, he invited fans to "play it as you want," before adding, "there's going to be a couple of choices here and there [where players would] wonder what happened, what would happen with this character. but I don't think you're missing out."

"The core of the game can be pick your character and the game adapts," explained Dumont. However, there are limits to that approach. Both of the characters have their own individual quests, which can't be played by the other. So if Yasuke has some unfinished personal business to take care of, players can't tag in Naoe for that. And the reverse is also true.

Intriguingly, Dumont indicated that there will be some side stories that are hidden behind the game's meditation sequences, which will let players explore the history of both Naoe and Yasuke. These interludes shed light on their backstories and motivations while fleshing out the world of the game.

Although this is the first Assassin's Creed game set in Japan, Shadows' Japanese release has been censored by Ubisoft to remove any dismemberment. In other countries, players can simply turn off the option to dismember their enemies. Ubisoft also recently showed off Shadows' robust accessibility options and teased an expansion, which is going to be a pre-order bonus rather than a standard DLC. However, the expansion will also be available for purchase at some point in the future.

Assassin's Creed Shadows will be released on March 20 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.